Crazy about coconuts
March 27, 2012
In the 1970s, Harry Wilson’s song “Coconut” extolling the wonders of the hairy fruit climbed the US charts. Just a little lime juice with the coconut and you feel better, went the tune. Now, the American beverage industry has re-discovered the benefits of the fibrous fruit. Coconut water has become a massively popular drink in the US and something of a darling of the natural foods world.
One of the biggest businesses in the industry is Vita Coco. The American company has more than quintupled its sales in the last few years. Faith in the coconut fruit has grown alongside the sales. Coconut milk is considered an effective way to lower blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
Coconut oil in the fight against cancer
Expectations and hopes for the coconut’s multi-faceted usage continue to grow. Naturopathic doctor and coconut expert Bruce Fife says the round, brown fruit has helped him make major advances in cancer research as well.
At his Coconut Research Center in the US state of Colorado, Fife is working on experiments with animals to find out how coconut oil can help guard against cancer. “The feed for all the animals with cancer was exactly the same – except for the oil added to it. We tried olive oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, coconut oil and a few others. The cancer advanced in all the animals in the study except for the ones who were fed coconut oil,” said Fife.
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has warned against the hype surrounding coconut oil as a possible remedy to cancer. Thanks to its high selenium content, coconuts are rich in anti-oxidants, which slow the aging process in human cells. But AICR reports that little can be said at this point on how effective coconuts really are in fighting cancer.
Still, coconut milk is an extremely healthy alternative as it contains high levels of potassium, vitamin c and magnesium. A bit of coconut water is far better than any sports drink, in fact. And because coconut water’s pH level is similar to human blood’s level and its salt content resembles that in human cells, it can even be used for infusions in emergencies.
Energy source and climate protection
On remote islands around the world, residents who do not have access to water sources often rely on coconut water instead to quench their thirst. Coconut palms grow along the tropical belt on the 26 degree latitude line, north and south. And in some 90 countries, more than 11 million farmers depend on coconuts for their livelihoods.
In the Philippines, coconut oil was until recently used solely for roasting and baking. Now, it’s used to produce vast quantities of biodiesel.
Romulo Arancon, executive director of the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community, says using coconuts to produce fuel cuts down on the high cost of importing fossil fuels. “Using coconut oil instead of diesel will make countries more and more independent. Now we’re trying to increase the coconut harvest without destroying the environment. It’s important that making biodiesel does not compete with food plants,” said Arancon.
The eco-friendly fuel is not only cheaper but also releases a minimal amount of CO2. Plus, coconut-based diesel oil is also said to smell much better than the traditional variety.
Everything’s put to use
And it’s not only the inside of the fruit that’s useful. Almost every part of the coconut palm finds use in. The stems and leaves can be turned into building materials for constructing homes, ships and furniture. The hard shell is a valuable material in creating fuel, and the fruit’s husk and fibers serve as a useful insulation material in eco-friendly houses.
Even the waste left behind after a coconut harvest has great potential: one German company called “Coir Project” turned the remnants into a coco substrate, where fruits and vegetables can grow without needing soil.
Until now, creating soil-less fruit and veggie plantations required using mineral wool or glass fiber mats. But Coir Project’s head Carsten Klinge says producing mineral wool consumes large amounts of energy and it’s difficult to dispose of the leftover substrate. Coco substrate, on the other hand, is the perfect green alternative.
“In Sri Lanka, coconut palms were mainly used for producing coconut milk and pulp. But when you process the fruit and the shell further into substrate, you complete the circle,” said Klinge.
The coconut palm has been an important source of nourishment and a vital building material for more than 3,000 years. And it appears the amazing plant will be just as important in the future.
There’s only one downside between the usually harmonious relationship between man and coconut: according to a study by the University of Florida, around 150 people die every year after being hit by falling coconuts. That’s 15 times as many deaths as by shark attacks.
Writer: Wiebke Feuersenger /ss
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar